Japanese troops called in as blizzard pummels northern Japan
Tokyo (dpa) - A blizzard battered Japan's northern island of Hokkaido Monday as soldiers were dispatched to hard-hit areas, local media reported.
The troops were sent to Rausu town on the eastern tip of Hokkaido, as snow accumulation reached a record 179 centimetres in the region where wind gusts reached 120 kilometre per hour, Hokkaido newspaper reported.
Snow accumulation also reached 41 centimetres in Shari town over a 24-hour period and 37 centimetres in Nakashibetsu town, the report said.
The storm caused the cancellation of 24 flights and about 100 train services on the island on Monday, after about 100 flights and 85train services were cancelled on the previous day, it said.
More than 200 schools were closed on the island Monday. Authorities also closed sections of major roads and highways, the report said.
The snowstorm brought the island to a virtual standstill on Sunday, cutting visibility to near zero.
With a low-pressure system stalled over eastern Hokkaido, the Meteorological Agency warned of blizzard conditions, high waves and avalanche risk through Tuesday.
